Refuse container for use with pressure toilets



R. T. CELLA Nov. 10, 1964 REFUSE CONTAINER FOR USE WITH PRESSURE TOILETS Filed Jan. 23, 1964 INVENTOR R/(Y/ARO 7T CELL/1 ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,155,988 Patented Nov. 10, 1964 3,155,988 REFUSE CONTAINER FOR USE WITH PRESSURE TGILETS Richard T. Ceila, Clarksvilie Road, RR. 1, Trenton, NJ. Filed Jan. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 339,741 6 Claims. (Cl. 48)

This invention relates to refuse containers and more particularly to a container suited for use with pressure toilets of the type shown in my U.S. Patent No. 3,054,117, dated September 18, 1962.

An object of the invention is to provide a container of the above type which can be readily attached to a toilet and removed and which can be conveniently handled for cleaning.

Another object is to provide a container of the above type which occupies a minimum amount of space when in use.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

Pressure toilets of the type disclosed in the above mentioned patent are particularly suited for use in airplanes or the like where limited space is available and wherein the container can be removed and cleaned only at intervals. In general the toilet comprises a bowl terminating at the bottom in a transverse passage having a screw conveyor or a piston for forcing the waste material to a discharge point where it is forced under pressure through a spring loaded valve into a removable container. The present invention provides a container of improved construction having the characteristics as above mentioned.

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a specific embodiment has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1 but on a larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2 on a larger scale showing the details of the dis charge valve; and

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the means for locking the valve in open position.

Referring to the drawing more in detail the invention is shown as embodied in a bag having a rectangular cross section and J-shaped to form a short leg 11, a cross leg 12, and a long leg 13. The bag 10 is preferably of molded construction and may be formed of a molded resin or of a fabric such as woven spun glass impregnated with a suitable resin in the rigid and heat-set state. Various thermosetting resins may be used and the bag set in rigid state after assembly either by the application of external heat or by heat produced internally by the application of a catalyst. The bag has been shown as of rectangular cross-section as an illustration only. The shape of the bag will depend upon the space available and the conditions of use.

In the form shown the short leg 11 terminates in an inlet valve 15 having an annular rim portion 16, which has a V-shaped convex outer surface with an outer diameter larger than the opening of the bag so that the valve cannot be drawn into the bag by any differential in air pressure which may develop during use. The fabric of the bag extends over this convex rim 16 and the bonding of the fabric may be strengthened by a wrapping of yarn 17 which extends over the entire outer surface or" the rim 16 and may be resin impregnated and rigidified with the setting of the fabric.

The convex shape of the rim prevents movement either into or from the bag under conditions of use.

The valve 15 carries a hub 18 in which the stem 19 of a poppet type valve having a head 20 is slidably held. The head 20 is urged outwardly into closed position by a spring 21 and has a conical surface 22 seating against a similar conical surface 23 formed on the rim 16.

The rim 16 also carries an extension 24 which is threaded externally to receive a clamping nut 25 which is carried on the end of the toilet housing 26 and is adapted to clamp the bag securely to the fixed housing while permitting rapid uncoupling thereof when the bag is to be removed. The rim 16 is provided with a small vent 27 communicating with the interior of the bag.

The long leg 13 of the bag carries a normally closed discharge valve 36 having a rim 31 formed with a V- shaped convex exterior surface 32 over which the fabric of the bag is secured and held by a wrapping 33 of cord or the like as in the case of the inlet valve above de scribed. This outlet valve is also of greater diameter than the adjacent part of the bag and is held against movement in either direction by its convex contour.

The discharge valve 30 has a hub 34 carrying the stem 35 of a valve having a head 36 which is held inwardly in closed position by a spring 37. The head 36 has a recessed handle 36a by which the valve may be pulled into open position and secured in open position by a pin 38 on the stem 35 sliding in a bayonet slot 39 in the hub 34. Handles 40 and 41 on the legs 12 and 13 respectively of the bag facilitate the handling thereof for removal and cleaning.

In operation the inlet valve is coupled to the toilet housing and so disposed that the longer leg 13 extends below the housing. The pressure exerted by the pressure feed of the toilet forces the inlet valve open and the waste material into the bag. When the bag is to be emptied as at the end of a trip the inlet valve is uncoupled from the housing and the bag placed with its discharge end in a receptacle. The discharge valve is then opened manually and locked in open position by turning the pin 38 into the bayonet slot 39 to allow the bag to empty itself into the receptacle.

For expediting such discharge and for washing out the inner surface of the bag the inlet valve 15 may be coupled to a water hose and water under pressure introduced. The pressure serves to open the valve and the conical opening between the head 22 and its seat causes the water to form a cone-shaped stream or spray for contacting and washing the inner surfaces of the bag, and for forcing the contents through the discharge valve 30 into the receiver.

The vent 27 prevents excessive pressure differentials from being built up under varying conditions of use.

What is claimed is:

1. A waste container for use with pressure toilets or the like comprising an elongated member having peripheral walls composed at least in part of a heat-settable resin in the rigid and set state, and inlet and discharge valves secured in opposite ends of said member, said valves having annular rims formed with a convex outer surface and of a diameter greater than that of the adjacent portion of said members, said peripheral walls being disposed over said convex surfaces and set in rigid state in close contact therewith for securing said valves in place against displacement in either direction, said inlet valve being of the poppet type having a head biased to open inwardly in response to external pressure and having coupling means for coupling the same to a fixed housing, said outlet valve being of similar structure and biased to open outwardly.

2. A container as set forth in claim 1 in which said walls are composed of a woven fiber glass fabric impregnated with said resin.

3. A container as set forth in claim 1 in which said elongated member is disposed in substantial J-shape to form a short leg, a long leg and a transverse connecting leg, said inlet valve being disposed in said short leg and said outlet valve being disposed in said long leg.

4. A waste container for use with pressure toilets or the like comprising an elongated member having peripheral walls composed at least in part of a heat-settable resin in the rigid and set state, and inlet and discharge valves secured in opposite ends of said member, said valves having annular rims formed with a convex outer surface and of a greater diameter than that of the adjacent portion of said member, said peripheral walls being disposed over said convex surfaces and set in rigid state in close contact therewith for securing said valves in place against displacement in either direction, said inlet valve being of the poppet type having a head biased to open inwardly in response to external pressure and having coupling means for coupling the same to a fixed housing, said outlet valve being of similar structure and biased to open outwardly, said inlet valve having a conical seat disposed adjacent the periphery thereof and adapted to cause an injected fluid to enter the container as a conical spray or film which contacts the container walls.

5. A Waste container for use with pressure toilets or the like comprising an elongated member having peripheral walls composed at least in part of a heat-settable resin in the rigid and set state, and inlet and discharge valves secured in opposite ends of said member, said valves having annular rims formed with a convex outer surface and of a diameter greater than that of the adjacent portion of said member, said peripheral walls being disposed over said convex surfaces and set in rigid state in close contact therewith for securing said valves in place againstdisplacement in either direction, said inlet valve being of the poppet type having a head biased to open inwardly in response to external pressure and having coupling means for coupling the same to a fixed housing, said outlet valve being of similar structure and biased to open outwardly, said outlet valve including a valve stem sliding in a fixed hub and having a pin and bayonet slot connection for holding the valve in open position in response to manual actuation.

6. A waste container for use with pressure toilets or the like comprising an elongated member having peripheral walls composed at least in part of a heat-settable resin in the rigid and set state, and inlet and discharge valves secured in opposite ends of said member, said valves having annular rims formed with a convex outer surface and of a diameter greater than that of the adjacent portion of said member, said peripheral walls being disposed over said convex surfaces and set in rigid state in close contact therewith for securing said valves in place against displacement in either direction, said inlet valve being of the poppet type having a head biased to open inwardly in response to external pressure and having coupling means for coupling the same to a fixed housing, said outlet valve being of similar structure and biased to open outwardly, and a cord wrapped around the convex portion of said walls and bonded to said walls for increasing the grip of said walls on said valve rim.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,042,061 Webb Oct. 22, 1912 1,155,550 Clarke Oct. 5, 1915 1,200,080 Clarke Oct. 3, 1916 1,256,320 Holmes Feb. 12, 1918 

1. A WASTE CONTAINER FOR USE WITH PRESSURE TOILETS OR THE LIKE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING PERIPHERAL WALLS COMPOSED AT LEAST IN PART OF A HEAT-SETTABLE RESIN IN THE RIGID AND SET STATE, AND INLET AND DISCHARGE VALVES SECURED IN OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID VALVES HAVING ANNULAR RIMS FORMED WITH A CONVEX OUTER SURFACE AND OF A DIAMETER GREATER THAN THAT OF THE ADJACENT PORTION OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID PERIPHERAL WALLS BEING DISPOSED OVER SAID CONVEX SURFACES AND SET IN RIGID STATE IN CLOSE CONTACT THEREWITH FOR SECURING SAID VALVES IN PLACE AGAINST DISPLACEMENT IN EITHER DIRECTION, SAID INLET VALVE BEING OF THE POPPET TYPE HAVING A HEAD BIASED TO OPEN INWARDLY IN RESPONSE TO EXTERNAL PRESSURE AND HAVING COUPLING MEANS FOR COUPLING THE SAME TO A FIXED HOUSING, 